Demystification of the Other

June 3, 2007, 1 pm, we started a spiritual journey in Germantown. As we started the walk, it started to drizzle and the weather turned very pleasant. The location, East Penn Street, was a rather desolate looking neighborhood, which housed Masjid (Mosque) Mohammad. The warmth and spirit of the people receiving us at the door made up for what may have lacked in surroundings/appearance. We walked into the prayer hall. Men were sitting on the floor on the left side of the hall and women were on the right side. A few minutes later, the call to prayers came and people formed lines to start praying (salat) in the traditional Muslim way. However, the non-traditional aspect was the congregation itself, which was composed of people from every religious background: Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, Buddhist, and Sikhs.

After the prayer, Imam Abdul Halim Hassan addressed the congregation. He said he was allotted five minutes to say something, which would change people’s outlook towards life. He realized the enormity of the task. He asked, “How many people here wanted paradise.” Many hands in the room went up. He quoted the saying of Prophet Mohammad, “The people who will enter paradise will share the same quality that they love each other.” He also said that the Prophet had prophesized that a time will come when you will see Jesus and me side by side. The imam said, “Today, I see Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad in the same room.”

From the masjid, our next destination was St Vincent de Paul church. As we entered the church, big beautiful pictorial depictions of Jesus and Mary decorated the roof, walls and windows of the church. The priest Fr. John Kettle Berger welcomed all and was amazed by the diversity of the church that day. The church was filled to capacity and many people were standing outside listening to the event through speakers. Universal Greeting was given by Pecki Witonsky. The singing continued as we marched out of the church.

The third stop on the journey was Germantown Mennonite Church. As we entered, singing was already in session, New Convenant Sanctuary choir welcomed us with, “Love is in my soul. Peace is in my soul.” The music was upbeat and the choir was clapping and dancing. It spurred the audience to join in. The second song was, “I need you to survive.” At the end of which the choir went around the room greeting everyone.

One of the speakers Dorothy Johnson-Speight, Mother in Charge, narrated the story of her 24-year-old son dying on the streets of Philadelphia. On the same day the son of a Caucasian woman too died from the same man’s gunshots. These two are now partners and started a group called Mothers in charge. As she narrated the story, three other members (mothers) joined her, who had lost their children in different parts of the world including Iraq. The story became more and more poignant. They invited others to join them in their efforts to maintain peace in Philadelphia and overseas. She said, “I don’t want this to be a once a year event but something that happens everyday.” Her statement received incredible applause. Vic Campher requested that as we march to the final destination we remain silent to honor victims of violence.

The final stop was Germantown Jewish Centre. On the way, we walked in silence to honor those that died in violence. As we entered the Synagogue, it too was filled to its capacity. We were greeted by music performed by Atzilut Concerts for Peace. Peace Walk founders, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and Imam Abdul Rauf, who started the group four years ago came on stage together. Rabbi Gottlieb received a call asking if she wanted to march for peace. She said, “Yes, yes, yes.” Imam Rauf said he was often asked why he was marching for peace. He asked all children 18 years and below to come on stage. As they started coming up, there was a silence in the room and awe at the diversity in ages, ethnicity, color, race and religion. He said, “This is the reason for the peace walk.”

Next was a musical performance by Atzilut Concert for Peace. The group sang in Hebrew and Arabic. It is so good and so sweet when we can all live together in peace. May peace come to us and to all the world. After which Shoshana Briklin sang 12 prophetic calls for peace. The sources were different ranging from words of Isaiah, Oscar Romero, Rumi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Psalms, Jeremiah, Thch Nhat Hanh, Dorothy Day and John Lennon. What was most striking was that if you did not know the source; all the messages were essentially the same.
Go my friend bestow your love even on your enemies
if you touch their hearts what do you think will happen-- Rumi
All we are saying is give peace a chance—John Lennon.
One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but that it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. WE must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means.—
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last but not the least, was the recitation in Arabic from the Koran. Imam Muhammad Shahada had a beautiful voice and gave a spellbinding rendition. The prophets used to pray “O Allah, You are peace and from you is peace. And unto you is Peace so let us live in Peace. And grant us Paradise, the home of peace.” After which the ceremony formally ended and we were asked to sample the Kosher/Halal refreshments.

As we enjoyed refreshments on the second floor of the synagogue, the rain started pouring. We then rode a bus to return back to the starting point, Masjid Mohammad. As we sat on the bus, the mood had been transformed; each person who departed from the bus got a very warm greeting. As we reached our final destination, we collected our cars and drove homeward bound. Alas, we became a little lost and stopped by a gas station for direction. The man giving directions said, “I am going the same way. Just follow me.” My husband commented that today we are running into such nice people. Maybe we all had a good intention, and suddenly we were experiencing just that in our lives. As we drove back, the rain was pouring and we had to slow down --as if the rain was waiting for the march to be over…the weather changed from the mid 80s to 60s during the course of the day. We came home physically tired from walking 4 miles around the city but spiritually revived. The walk next year will be National since the interfaith group feels that many people from other states support the Peace walk and would like to join the peace march next year. Can’t wait for the joyous occasion.